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05 October 2010
According to Raj (2008), a “migraine is a highly prevalent, neurological disorder most commonly characterized by attacks and other neurological accompaniments of intense head pain lasting 4 to 72 hours in duration.” As these headaches can last hours to days, many patients seek prevention tips and pain relief should they experience a migraine.
Migraines are common and usually very painful, and are generally seen more in women than men. Migraines are sometimes accompanied with an aura, or visual perception, usually before they occur. In rare cases, the aura will accompany the onset of the headache. Some migraine sufferers will experience nausea, dizziness and vomiting accompanying their headaches.
These types of headaches are generally triggered by environmental stimuli – certain activities, sounds, and even sometimes certain smells can trigger a migraine attack. For chronic migraine sufferers, it’s important to avoid these triggers once they have been identified. Migraines can also be triggered by allergies or allergic reactions, stress, or a number of other factors. It is often difficult to clearly pinpoint exactly what will cause a migraine – but for some, they are able to discern what their migraine trigger is, and thus avoid or minimize this trigger.
A migraine diagnosis is different from a traditional headache diagnosis in that they must be accompanied by certain factors. They must be of a certain duration (usually, they must last more than 4 hours to be considered a migraine), include an additional symptom such as sensitivity to light and sound, and be in a specific location to be considered true migraines.
Migraine treatment should be approached from two angles – both treatment of the existing headache and prevention of a headache in its early onset. Of course, ideally, migraines may be prevented by avoiding known triggers; however, not all who are chronic migraine sufferers are aware of their triggers. Conservative preventative care for migraines may include massage, vision correction, regular exercise and learning techniques such as regulated breathing and relaxation exercises or yoga.
Non-prescription medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin may prove useful when the warning factors are indicated, such as the onset of an aura or mild pain. A physician may prescribe serotonin if the patient’s migraines are not improving with non-prescription medication. While beta-blockers are most commonly known for those with heart conditions, it is becoming apparent that they may help those with chronic migraines.
A new use of an older technology, occipital nerve stimulation has also been shown to help chronic migraine sufferers with their pain. Some patients will endure migraines for weeks with no pain relief in sight. Occipital nerve stimulation can be equated to a ‘pacemaker’ for pain – the body will perceive ‘parathesia’ or a light buzzing sensation that many have called pleasant and non-painful instead of the pain of the migraine. Many have seen great success and pain relief from the use of occipital nerve stimulation.
If you suffer from migraines that cannot be controlled with over-the-counter medication, your physician may be able to recommend or prescribe treatments or therapies that can help.
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References
- Raj, (2008) Raj’s Practical Management of Pain.415. (Benzon, Rathmell, Wu, Turk, Argoff Eds.)Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier
- Mayoclinic.com
